Kiev expects that all hostages will be freed in Eastern Ukraine - Poroshenko

June 08 2014

RBTH

Interfax

Ukraine expects the liberation of the hostages kept in the country's east, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

Ukraine expects the liberation of the hostages kept in the country's east, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"We also expect, especially after today's talks with the leaders of the OSCE, resolute steps to release hostages that are kept by the terrorists today," he said at a Saturday meeting with German President Joachim Gauck in Kyiv.

He said that Ukraine expects Russia to recognize the outcome of the Ukrainian presidential election. "We are waiting for Russia to recognize the elections," he said noting that the public vote had been honest and free.

He spoke of the steps that will be proposed to the Russian Federation to settle the situation. He said Kyiv would urge the Russian side to cancel the Federation Council resolution about the possibility of using Russian Armed Forces in the territory of Ukraine.

He reminded Gauck of Ukraine's decision to partly close its eastern border. He also noted that he expects the Russian side to support the language initiatives he announced in his inauguration speech.

In turn Gauck said that Germany has always supported and continues to support Ukraine's European integration aspirations. He said German Chancellor Angela Merkel and he had been very anxious about the future of Ukraine.